Dubai, August 18, 2026: The Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until the United States meets the conditions of an interim agreement signed with Iran in June, Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Tuesday, according to Iranian state media.

Qalibaf said Iran wants the United States to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, remove oil sanctions, release Tehran’s frozen assets and end threats and military operations against Iran.

The June 17 memorandum of understanding had provided a framework for negotiations on a broader agreement, including issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme. However, the agreement later unravelled amid a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 7 that the deal was over, while Iran subsequently declared it suspended.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route, with a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it before the conflict.

Iran’s latest statement comes amid a wider diplomatic standoff between Tehran and Washington.

Source: Reuters